By Bruce Caldwell Model Tested: 2013 Chevrolet Volt 4dr Sedan Engine: Electric motor 149-hp, 273-lb/ft plus 1.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine, 84-hp, 92-lb-ft Transmission: CVT automatic, Front Wheel Drive EPA Ratings: 98-mpg electric (38 mile range)/37-mpg gasoline only Base Price: $39,145 As Tested: $43,375 Performance: Smooth and quiet (almost too quiet in electric mode). Four-hour recharge […]
Life
Posted inBehind The Wheel
Flash Drive: 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI
By Bruce Caldwell Model Tested: 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI-SE 4-door sedan Engine: 2.0-liter Turbodiesel DOHC I4, 140 hp, 236 lb/ft Transmission: 6-speed automatic, front wheel drive EPA Ratings: 30-mpg city/40-mpg highway Base Price: $19,995 As Tested: $25,995 Performance: Comfort: Utility: WOW Factors: Whines: Bottom Line: The 2012 VW Passat TDI is an outstanding mid-size sedan […]
Posted inBehind The Wheel
Flash Drive: 2013 Kia Sportage
Model Tested: 2013 KIA SPORTAGE SX AWD Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, 260 hp, 269 lb/ft Transmission: 6-speed automatic, All Wheel Drive, Locking Center Differential EPA Ratings: 20-mpg city/25-mpg highway Base Price: $28,400 As Tested: $32,400 Performance Comfort Utility WOW Factors Whines Sporty engine and our spirited driving held fuel economy to high teens Substantial […]
Posted inPeople & Places
A Visit to ‘The Little City by the Sea’
Kingston is an enticing destination on a warm weekend for anyone looking to “get away” without driving far. Shopping and dining are among the main attractions but the gorgeous views and the proximity to various parks and other recreational opportunities make Kingston a serious competitor to other local charmers. Once a booming lumber town, Kingston […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Fascination of Good Design Creates a Variety of Interests
Terry Logan (formerly Terry Nokell) was only 5 years old when she first used a needle to sew. With scraps of burgundy corduroy and flowery-indigo cotton left from her outfit for a kindergarten photo, Logan decided to make herself a vest. Of course, at that age, she had no understanding of scale — the project […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Organic Chemistry
When a couple of empty-nesters trade the urban asphalt of Southern California for a leafy-green piece of Bainbridge Island, culture shock is guaranteed. Their first job, therefore, is to buy an umbrella, a pair of Birkenstocks and learn the meaning of “frog rock.” Their second job is to locate an architect and a decorator who […]
Posted inPeople & Places
50 Million Light-Years to Kitsap
The uniformed Transportation Security Administration officer at SeaTac airport stared at the thin, bald man standing in front of him and held up the passport he’d just been given, his eyes darting back and forth between the tiny photo and the man. After several tense seconds, he stared hard at the man and said, “Are […]
Posted inPeople & Places
When Art Meets Engineering Ingenuity — The Beautiful Metal Renditions of Tom Carmichael
When a renowned Hall of Fame martial artist wanted to capture the story of his life in a sculpture, he turned to Tom Carmichael. A Bremerton metal artist who’s known mostly through word of mouth (forget finding him online, for example), Carmichael created the most awesome piece, using bits and pieces of the customer’s life […]
Posted inPeople & Places
House Party — The Murphy Family’s Forever Home
Some houses are best observed in motion. Take, for instance, the home of Sean and Shelley Murphy in Gig Harbor. Sean, a dentist, and Shelley, a former English and Spanish teacher, have four children ranging in age from 5 to 12, so a certain amount of frenetic activity is expected on a daily basis. Then […]